EU Statement at the 31th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Item 4 – Human Rights situation that require the Council’s attention
15 March 2016
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In China, the detention of human rights defenders, lawyers and those defending labor rights, and enforced disappearances on foreign soil raise serious questions about China’s respect for its international human rights obligations and its stated commitment to upholding the rule of law. The disappearance and detention of five Hong Kong residents, two of whom EU citizens and the public broadcasting of their so-called confessions also raise serious concerns. Individuals detained for seeking to protect the rights of others and for the peaceful exercise of their freedom of expression, including Liu Xiaobo, Ilham Tohti, Xu Zhiyong and Wang Yu, should be released. China should also take into account concerns about the draft foreign NGO law and the recent national security and counter-terrorism legislation. Lastly, the EU urges China to address the root causes of unrest and foster dialogue with different ethnic groups, especially in Tibet and Xinjiang.
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